KEY POINTS:
- Total Global Cases: 1,274,022
- Total Global Deaths: 69,465
- Total Global Recoveries: 264,807
- Active Cases: 939,750 (894,158 in mild condition; 45,592 in critical condition)
- Closed Cases: 334,272 (264,807 recovered; 69,465 deaths)
- The COVID-19 pandemic is now affecting 208 countries and territories around the world, as well as 2 international conveyances – the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship and the Holland America’s MS Zaandam Cruise Ship.
- COVID-19 has officially spread to every region in the Philippines.
- Malaysia reported 179 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the country’s total to 3,662.
- Japan to declare a state of emergency COVID-19 cases surge.
- Iran to resume low-risk economic activities amid COVID-19 outbreak.
Below are some of the latest news and updates regarding the COVID-19 pandemic that has swept across the world.
Philippines. As of April 6, COVID-19 has officially spread to every region in the Philippines, with Caraga Region in northeast Mindanao reporting its first confirmed case. There are a total of 3,414 COVID-19 cases in the country, as well as 154 deaths and 64 recoveries as of Monday.
The Chinese government has sent in a team of medical experts to help the Philippines combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The group, composed of two Chinese officials and ten medical professionals, was welcomed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Sunday afternoon. The team is expected to share their technical expertise on the control and prevention of the virus in the country. The Health Department said that the Chinese medical experts will be visiting various local health facilities to check how the country is managing the spread of COVID-19.
Apart from the medical team, the Chinese government has also sent a new batch of medical supplies, including 30 non-invasive ventilators, 5,000 medical face shields, 5,000 medical protective suits, 30,000 N95 masks, and 300,000 surgical masks.
Malaysia. Malaysia reported 179 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the country’s total to 3,662. The new cases include 4 deaths, bringing the death toll to 61. In an effort to contain the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, Malaysians have been subject to a movement control order since March 18. The first phase took place from March 18-31, while the second phase – which started on April 1 – will continue until April 14.
However, Malaysians remain vulnerable to imported COVID-19 cases that may become new local clusters – this is after one patient who returned from Italy caused 37 other infections. Datuk Noor Hisham Abdullah, Director General of Health of the Malaysian Ministry of Health, said that this example shows why it is essential for those possibly exposed to COVID-19 to be honest with health authorities. In his provided example, Health DG said Case 1,580 had been to Italy but did not disclose this upon returning to Malaysia. This person then became an index patient and went on to infect 37 more people, resulting in at least 5 deaths and leaving one in critical condition.
Japan. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is planning to declare a state of emergency as the country’s COVID-19 cases surge to over 4,000 people. Japan’s ministry said that 367 new cases were diagnosed, bringing the national tally to 4,209.
Tokyo confirmed at least 143 new COVID-19 on Sunday – this was the highest daily jump in confirmed cases so far, bringing the number of positive cases in the capital to more than 1,000. Meanwhile, the number of people who have died from COVID-19 topped 100 the same day. Tokyo’s metropolitan government has strongly urged people to stay at home as the city of 13 million has seen an increase in the number of cases in recent days. On Sunday, Governor Yuriko Koike appeared on a morning news program and repeated her call to residents to cancel unnecessary outings, saying that “lives are at stake”.
Aside from Tokyo – where a surge in COVID-19 cases has made the capital the worst-hit area in the country – stay-at-home requests have been issued by different prefectures including Fukui, Miyagi, Ibaraki, Fukuoka, and Osaka.
Iran. President Hassan Rouhani has said that “low-risk” economic activities will resume on April 11. In a televised meeting on Sunday, President Rouhani said, “Under the supervision of the health ministry, all those low-risk economic activities will resume from Saturday. Those activities will resume in the capital, Tehran, from April 18.”
Iran has been struggling to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, but authorities are also worried that measures to limit public life to contain the outbreak may destroy an already sanctions-battered economy. President Rouhani did not clarify what he meant by “low-risk” activities, but said that the suspension of “high-risk activities” – schools and various cultural, religious, sports, and social events – would be extended to April 18.
Pakistan. According to the data updated by Pakistan’s health ministry on Sunday evening, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country has risen to 3,059, including 45 deaths. These statistics showed that at least 512 people were tested positive, while eight deaths were reported from Friday to Sunday.
The country’s eastern Punjab province continues to be the most affected area with 1,319 confirmed cases, followed by southern Sindh province with 881 reported cases so far. Meanwhile, the number of cases in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province reached 372, 206 in north Gilgit-Baltistan region, 189 in southwest Balochistan province, and 78 in the capital Islamabad.
Earlier on Saturday, the government told the Supreme Court of Pakistan that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country might reach over 50,000 by the end of April. However, government officials added that these figures are based merely on assumptions while observing the trends in the country and the world.
Qatar. On Sunday, Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health reported 279 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections to 1,604. The ministry also reported one more death, raising the death toll to 4. A further 14 recoveries have also been reported, bringing the total to 123.
The 279 new COVID-19 cases are believed to be the highest reported in a single day since the outbreak. The newly diagnosed patients are both Qataris and expatriate residents who either had been in contact with infected individuals or came from abroad.
Russia. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Russia has risen to 5,389 after 658 new cases were reported on Sunday. Russia’s COVID-19 response center has released a statement, “Over the past 24 hours, 658 new coronavirus infection cases have been confirmed in 14 Russian regions” – the statement also adds that a total of 79 Russian regions had confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Out of the 658 new cases, 536 have been confirmed in Moscow – the Russian capital – and another 45 in the Moscow Region. The country’s death toll has also risen to 45m while the number of patients who recovered from COVID-19 has reached 355.
